AMD's new FX Processor, Qwikster is Dead, Memristors by 2013, and Most Useful Websites on PCWorld Podcast #126

PCWorld Editors Megan Geuss, Nate Ralph, and Jason Cross express their disappointment in the new FX processors from AMD. "Bulldozer" was supposed to get AMD back in the arms race against Intel for high-performance CPUs, but it's not nearly fast enough and draws too much power. The best AMD can compete with seems to be the middle-of-the-road from Intel.

We're also sort of dismayed by Netflix's decision to kill the whole Qwikster idea. Yes, it was a terrible name, but we're actually sort of in favor of the DVD rental business splitting off from the streaming business. Now it just looks like they don't know what they're doing over there. Speaking of web services, Megan gives us a sneak peak at the results of her coming feature on the most useful websites on the 'net.

Oh, and would you like an SSD that is almost as fast as RAM and draws less power? That's the promise of memristors, a new fundamental circuit component HP has been developing. That, and potentially higher storage density and lower cost, once manufacture ramps up. The first products might be on the market in 2013...it'll be here before you know it.